JP2005283721A - Supporting structure of optical fibers and optical fiber unit using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a supporting structure of optical fibers with which the positioning of optical axes is accurately performed in a combination of arrangements of a plurality of focused optical fibers, and a collimator structure or the like using the optical fibers is easily composed. <P>SOLUTION: The supporting structure of optical fibers is characterized in that a plurality of coated optical fibers 14 are supported in an arrangement that the outer faces are closely and uniformly arranged around the optical axes, at least one of a first holder 20 and a second holder 30 formed in the shape of a rectangular solid is provided with supporting grooves 22a and 22b for supporting the coated optical fibers 14, the coated optical fibers 14 are arranged in the supporting grooves 22a and 22b, the abutting faces of the first holder 20 and the second holder 30 are abutted to each other, thus the coated optical fibers 14 are clamped and supported by the first holder 20 and the second holder 30. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical fiber unit structure, and more particularly to an optical fiber unit structure formed by combining a plurality of optical fibers.

In fields such as communication and measurement using optical fibers, multi-functionalization is progressing as the amount of information increases, and various products are used as optical devices and optical units and optical components constituting the optical devices.
When handling an optical fiber, it is necessary to accurately align the position of the core of the optical fiber. As a part for supporting the optical fiber by aligning it, a support provided with a ferrule or a V-shaped support groove is provided. A stand is used.
The ferrule is provided with an insertion hole through which the core of the optical fiber is inserted, and is used by inserting the core of the optical fiber through the insertion hole. The support base provided with the V-groove is used when the core is set in the V-shaped groove and the optical fiber is fixed integrally with an adhesive or the like.
Further, as a method of forming a collimator structure using an optical fiber, a method of optically adjusting and integrating an optical fiber supported by a ferrule or V groove and a lens is performed.
JP-A-8-179137 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-44821 JP 2003-207678 A

  By the way, in communication using an optical fiber, a plurality of optical fibers may be used in combination. Thus, in the method of using a ferrule when combining a plurality of optical fibers, the inner diameter of the insertion hole 12 provided in the ferrule 10 is formed to a dimension that allows a plurality of optical fiber core wires 14 to be inserted as shown in FIG. A plurality of core wires 14 are inserted into the insertion hole 12.

  FIG. 10 shows a case where the two core wires 14 and 14 are inserted into the insertion hole 12 of the ferrule 10. Thus, in the case of a method in which the core wire 14 is inserted into the insertion hole 12 of the ferrule 10 and a plurality of optical fibers are combined, the operation of inserting and fixing the core wire 14 into the insertion hole 12 is difficult, and the outer surface of the core wire 14 is adjacent. There is a problem that it is difficult to realize a structure to be supported. In FIG. 10, reference numeral 16 denotes a coating portion covering the core 14 of the optical fiber. The core wire 14 is exposed from the covering portion 16 and is inserted into the insertion hole 12 of the ferrule 10.

  Also, as a method of combining a plurality of optical fibers, a core wire is set on a support base formed by arranging V-shaped grooves in parallel, and in that state, the core wire is fixed with an adhesive or the like, or a parallel wire using a resin material There exists a method of forming in the shape of a long tape. However, when optical fibers are arranged in parallel and combined in this way, the optical fibers are separated, so a large lens is required when forming a collimator structure, and the arrangement space is reduced. There is a problem that it becomes difficult to take efficiently.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve these problems, and the object of the present invention is to be able to combine a plurality of optical fibers in an efficiently focused arrangement, and to accurately align the optical axes. It is possible to provide a support structure for an optical fiber and an optical fiber unit using the same.

The present invention has the following configuration in order to achieve the above object.
That is, an optical fiber support structure for supporting the cores of a plurality of optical fibers in a uniform arrangement around the optical axis with the outer surfaces adjacent to each other, the first holder and the second formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape A support groove for supporting the core wire is provided in at least one of the holders, the core wire is disposed in the support groove, and the contact surfaces of the first holder and the second holder are brought into contact with each other. The core wire is clamped and supported by the holder and the second holder.
An end face of the block body formed by clamping the core wire by the first holder and the second holder is formed in a square shape, and the center position of the end face of the block body is aligned with the symmetrical center position of the core wire. The vertical, horizontal and height dimensions of the first holder and the second holder are set.

Further, a block body in which a core wire is clamped by a first holder and a second holder constituting the optical fiber support structure, and a collimator lens are mounted on a mounting plate with their respective end surfaces in contact with each other. In the optical fiber unit, the mounting plate is provided with a set groove for mounting the block body and the collimator lens. In a state of being set in contact with each other, the symmetrical center position of the core line supported by the block body and the optical axis of the collimator lens are provided so as to coincide with each other.
Further, the mounting plate is provided with a set groove having an opening angle of 90 ° for mounting the block body and the collimator lens having a square end face shape, and the block body and the collimator lens are provided in the set groove, respectively. In a state where the outer surface is set in contact with the set groove, the symmetrical center position of the core wire supported by the block body and the optical axis of the collimator lens are provided so as to coincide with each other.

  According to the support structure of the optical fiber according to the present invention, it is possible to accurately support a plurality of cores of the optical fiber that are converged around the optical axis. In addition, according to the optical fiber unit of the present invention, a collimator structure using an optical fiber in which a block body that supports the core wire on a mounting plate and a collimator lens are mounted can be easily formed.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
An optical fiber unit structure according to the present invention includes a structure that positions and supports the core wires of a plurality of optical fibers with their outer surfaces being adjacent to each other, and a collimating structure that uses the support structure of the optical fibers that are positioned and supported. It has.

(Support structure of optical fiber)
First, a description will be given of an optical fiber support structure for positioning and supporting an optical fiber core wire with the outer surfaces thereof being adjacent to each other.
The optical fiber support structure of the present embodiment is configured to be supported with a core wire sandwiched between a first holder and a second holder formed in a block shape. The optical fiber support structure of the embodiment is for supporting two core wires. FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the first holder 20, and FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the second holder 30. ing. The material of the first holder 20 and the second holder 30 is not particularly limited, and an appropriate material such as an optical glass material, quartz, metal, ceramic, or resin can be used.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the main body of the first holder 20 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and the front side of the main body, which is a part that supports the core wire, is formed thick as the first clamp portion 21. The rear side of the main body is formed thin to support an optical fiber (consisting of a core wire and a covering portion) having a diameter larger than that of the core wire. Reference numeral 21 a denotes a contact surface that contacts the second holder 30 when the core wire is clamped with the second holder 30. The contact surface 21a is formed on a flat surface as shown in the figure.

A characteristic configuration of the first holder 20 is that the first clamp portion 21 is provided with two support grooves 22a and 22b for positioning and supporting the core of the optical fiber. The support grooves 22a and 22b are formed in a V-shaped cross section, and are provided on the contact surface 21a of the first clamp part 21 so as to cross the first clamp part 21 in the front-rear direction. The support grooves 22a and 22b are formed in a groove shape and a groove size in which the outer surfaces of the two core wires come into contact with each other when the core wires are set. When the support grooves 22a and 22b are viewed from the front direction (the axial direction of the core wire) so that the outer surface of the core wire comes into contact, the adjacent portion of the groove formed in the V shape has a W shape. Yes.
The support grooves 22a and 22b are set so that the core wire is set in parallel with the contact surface 21a in a state where the core wire is set, and in the state where the core wire is set in the support grooves 22a and 22b. It is provided so that the contact surface 21a and the height of the outer peripheral surface of the core wire coincide with each other.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the second holder 30 that clamps and supports the core wire with the first holder 20. FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a state in which the second clamp portion 31 formed on the front side of the second holder 30 is directed upward, and FIG. 2B is a view of the second clamp portion 31 facing downward. It is a perspective view of the state made into.
Similarly to the first holder 20, the second holder 30 is formed in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped, the second clamp portion formed on the front side of the main body is thick, and the rear side of the main body is thin. Has been. The contact surface 31 a that contacts the first clamp portion 21 formed on the first holder 20 is a simple flat surface.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the core wires 14 of two optical fibers are clamped and supported by the first holder 20 and the second holder 30, and FIG. 4 is an end view.
As shown in FIG. 3, in the optical fiber, the core wires 14 are arranged in the support grooves 22a and 22b of the first holder 20, respectively, and the contact surfaces 21a and 31a of the first holder 20 and the second holder 30 are arranged. The first holder 20 and the second holder 30 are bonded together by the adhesive 24 and fixed together.

  The adhesive 24 is applied between the opposing surfaces of the first holder 20 and the second holder 30, and the first clamp portion 21 and the second clamp portion 31 support the optical fibers on the rear side of the first holder 20 and the second holder 30. A part sandwiched between the holder 20 and the second holder 30 is filled with the adhesive 24. When the first holder 20 and the second holder 30 are bonded together by the adhesive 24, the side surfaces of the first holder 20 and the second holder 30 must be flush with each other. It is necessary to prevent the adhesive 24 from protruding outward from the side surface positions of the first holder 20 and the second holder 30.

  The optical fiber core wires 14 and 14 are clamped by the first holder 20 and the second holder 30, and the first holder 20 and the second holder 30 are bonded together by the adhesive 24, so that the two The core wires 14 and 14 are supported by a block body 40 that is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape as a whole, and the two core wires 14 and 14 are formed of support grooves 22 a and 22 b formed in the first holder 20 and the second holder 30. The outer surface abuts against the abutting surface 31 a and is reliably positioned and held by the first holder 20 and the second holder 30.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the present embodiment, the first holder 20 is configured such that the end surface shape of the block body 40 is square while the core wire 14 is supported by the first holder 20 and the second holder 30. The vertical, horizontal and height dimensions of the second holder 30 are set.
Further, in the optical fiber support structure of the present embodiment, when the two core wires 14 and 14 are supported by the first holder 20 and the second holder 30, the center of symmetry of the two core wires 14 and 14 is obtained. The support position of the core wire 14 is set so that the position that becomes the same as the center position of the block body 40 that is formed in a square shape in the end face shape.

In FIG. 4, lines A and B are vertical bisectors of the vertical and horizontal sides of the block body 40, and the intersection positions of the vertical bisectors A and B are two core wires 14 arranged adjacent to each other. 14 contact positions, that is, coincident with the symmetrical center position of the two core wires 14 and 14.
The arrangement in which the center position of the block body 40 coincides with the symmetrical center position of the end face of the core wire 14 is that the optical fiber core wire 14 can be accurately positioned by supporting the optical fiber by the block body 40. This is because the collimator structure can be easily formed by using the block body 40 supporting the optical fiber.

  For the purpose of constructing an optical fiber collimator structure, it is necessary to accurately position and support the core 14 of the optical fiber, and to accurately process the shape and depth of the support grooves 22a and 22b. In addition, in order to accurately align the symmetrical center position of the core wire 14 and the optical axis of the collimator optical system, a process of accurately dimensioning the outer shapes of the first holder 20 and the second holder 30 is performed. I need it. These processes are performed by polishing using a polishing jig.

(Optical fiber collimator structure)
Next, a method of configuring an optical fiber collimator structure using the optical fiber support structure in which the optical fiber core wire 14 is held by the first holder 20 and the second holder 30 described above will be described.
5 and 6 are an end view and a side view showing the configuration of the collimator structure of the optical fiber. The collimator structure of the optical fiber includes a block body 40 and a collimator lens 50 that support the core 14 of the optical fiber, and a mounting plate 60 that supports the block body 40 and the collimator lens 50 in contact with each other.

As shown in FIG. 5, the mounting plate 60 is provided with a set groove 62 whose opening angle is accurately set to 90 ° on the upper surface, and the block body 40 holding the core wire 14 in the set groove 62 and The collimator lens 50 is placed on the collimator structure.
The opening angle of the set groove 62 is set to 90 ° because the block body 40 is set in accordance with the set groove 62 and the collimator lens 50 is set in the set groove 62 so that the block body 40 This is because the symmetrical center position of the two supported core wires 14, 14 is made to coincide with the optical axis position of the collimator lens 50.

The collimator lens 50 is formed with an outer peripheral diameter set in advance so that the four sides of the block body 40 having a square end surface shape and the outer peripheral surface thereof are inscribed.
If the outer diameter of the collimator lens 50 is set in this way, the collimator lens 50 and the block body 40 are automatically set to the common set groove 62 so that their outer surfaces come into contact with each other. The optical axis and the symmetrical center position of the core wires 14 and 14 supported by the block body 40 coincide with each other. The symmetrical center position of the core wires 14 and 14 supported by the block body 40 is aligned with the center of the block body 40 in advance, and the state where the outer peripheral surface of the collimator lens 50 is in contact with the four sides of the block body 40 is the collimator. This is because the center of the lens 50 and the center of the block body 40 coincide.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the end face of the block body 40 and the end face of the collimator lens 50 are brought into contact with each other to form a collimator structure. The end surface of the block body 40 may be polished after the core wire 14 is supported on the block body 40 so that the end surface of the block body 40 and the end surface of the core wire 14 are in the same plane position. Since the collimator lens 50 is processed to have a predetermined length for collimating light, an accurate collimating structure is obtained by arranging the end face of the core wire 14 in contact with the end face of the collimator lens 50. FIG. 6 shows that the optical axes of the core wire 14 supported by the block body 40 and the collimator lens 50 are aligned to form a straight line.

In the present embodiment, a relief groove 64 is provided at the bottom of the set groove 62, and the side surfaces of the block body 40 abut against two opposing surfaces of the set groove 62 so that the block body 40 is supported. The corner portion of the block body 40 may be chamfered.
For assembly processing, in a state where the block body 40 is set in the set groove 62, a process such as polishing is performed with one outer surface of the block body 40 as a reference surface with respect to one inner surface of the set groove 62, and the collimator lens 50 And the symmetrical center position of the core wires 14 and 14 supported by the block body 40 are made to coincide with each other accurately.

  According to the collimator structure of the optical fiber of the present embodiment, the core wire 14 is accurately positioned and supported by the block body 40, and the collimator lens formed on the mounting plate 60 with the block body 40 and a predetermined outer diameter dimension. By setting 50, there is an advantage that an accurate collimator structure can be obtained in a state where the symmetrical center position of the core wire 14 and the optical axis of the collimator lens 50 coincide.

In addition, as a structure in the case of setting the collimator structure by setting the collimator lens 50 and the block body 40 on the mounting plate 60, the block body 40 is not limited to the case where the end surface shape is a square as described above. Absent.
That is, the distance (R1 and R2 shown in FIG. 6) between the symmetrical center position of the core wires 14 and 14 supported by the block body 40 and the two outer surfaces sandwiching one corner portion of the block body 40 is the collimator lens 50. The outer shape of the block body 40 is processed so as to coincide with the radius, and when the block body 40 is set on the mounting plate 60, the two outer surfaces sandwiching the one corner portion are set so as to contact the set groove 62. That's fine.

(Other support structure of optical fiber)
In the above embodiment, in order to support the two core wires 14 and 14 by the first holder 20 and the second holder 30, the first holder 20 is provided with a W-shaped support groove, and the second holder 30. The contact surface 31a is formed as a flat surface, but as shown in FIG. 7, the first holder 20 and the second holder 30 are each provided with a support groove 22 for setting the core wire 14 one by one. The holder 20 and the second holder 30 can be opposed to each other and bonded together so that the outer surfaces of the two core wires 14 and 14 are in contact with each other so that the core wires 14 are supported in parallel. .

FIG. 8 shows an example of a support structure that supports the three core wires 14 using the first holder 20 and the second holder 30, and FIG. 9 shows four that use the first holder 20 and the second holder 30. The support structure which supports the core wire 14 of this is shown.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the first holder 20 and the second holder are provided with support grooves 22 for supporting two and one core wire 14, respectively. In the embodiment shown in FIG. Two support grooves 22 for supporting the core wire 14 are provided in each of the 20 and the second holder 30. In either case, the core wires 14 are arranged so that the outer surfaces of the core wires 14 are in contact with each other and are evenly arranged around the optical axis so that the symmetrical center position of the core wire 14 coincides with the center position of the block body 40. ing. In this embodiment, the block body 40 is formed in a square end face shape, and the center position of the block body 40 coincides with the optical axis of the collimator structure.

  Thus, by arranging the core wire 14 so as to be symmetrically arranged around the optical axis of the collimator structure, a plurality of core wires 14 can be focused around the optical axis and optically efficient. It is possible to achieve an arrangement and to save space. The core 14 of the optical fiber has a very small diameter, and the block body 40 that supports the core 14 is actually a very small product of 1 mm × 1 mm, and the optical fiber unit structure according to the present invention is formed extremely small. Is.

It is a perspective view of a 1st holder. It is a perspective view of a 2nd holder. It is a perspective view in the state where an optical fiber was supported by the 1st holder and the 2nd holder. It is an end view of the block body which supported the core wire. It is sectional drawing of the state which set the block body to the mounting plate. It is explanatory drawing which looked at the state which set the block body to the mounting plate from the cross-sectional direction. It is explanatory drawing which shows the other example which supports two core wires. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example which supports three core wires. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example which supports four core wires. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example which supports a core wire with a ferrule.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Ferrule 12 Insertion hole 14 Core wire 16 Coating | coated part 20 1st holder 21 1st clamp part 21a, 31a Contact surface 22, 22a, 22b Support groove 24 Adhesive 30 2nd holder 31 2nd clamp part 40 Block Body 50 Collimator lens 60 Mounting plate 62 Set groove 64 Relief groove

Claims (4)

An optical fiber support structure for supporting the core wires of a plurality of optical fibers in an arrangement in which the outer surface is adjacent and is uniform around the optical axis,
At least one of the first holder and the second holder formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape is provided with a support groove for supporting the core wire,
The core wire is clamped and supported by the first holder and the second holder by placing the core wire in the support groove and bringing the contact surfaces of the first holder and the second holder into contact with each other. An optical fiber support structure. The end face of the block body formed by clamping the core wire by the first holder and the second holder is formed in a square,
The vertical, horizontal, and height dimensions of the first holder and the second holder are set so that the center position of the end face of the block body and the symmetrical center position of the core wire coincide with each other. The optical fiber support structure according to claim 1. A block body in which a core wire is clamped by a first holder and a second holder constituting the optical fiber support structure according to claim 1 and a collimator lens are mounted on a mounting plate with their respective end surfaces in contact with each other. An optical fiber unit comprising:
The mounting plate is provided with a set groove for mounting the block body and the collimator lens,
In the state where the block body and the collimator lens are set in the set groove with their respective outer surfaces being in contact with the set groove, the symmetrical center position of the core line supported by the block body and the optical axis of the collimator lens are An optical fiber unit characterized by being provided in a consistent manner. An optical fiber unit comprising a block body and a collimator lens constituting a support structure for an optical fiber according to claim 2 mounted on a mounting plate with their respective end surfaces in contact with each other,
The mounting plate is provided with a set groove having an opening angle of 90 ° for mounting the block body and the collimator lens.
In the state where the block body and the collimator lens are set in the set groove with their respective outer surfaces being in contact with the set groove, the symmetrical center position of the core line supported by the block body and the optical axis of the collimator lens are An optical fiber unit characterized by being provided in a consistent manner.

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